Syringe



J. A. EPPS July 1, 195s SYRINGE Filed May 7, 1956 w 44, M 34 64 A# oo QJ 3 g M 2 @we 4MM w a r JT..

INVENTOR. JOB/3N f'- EPPS Il Il il Il l 1l' ATTORNEY United States Patent SYRINGE John A. Epps, Denver, Colo.

Application May 7, 1956, Serial No. 583,031 9 Claims. (ci. 12s-21s) This invention relates to syringes and more particularly to syringes of the type in which one component of the mixture to be injected is originally contained in one element of the syringe and another component is contained in a separate element thereof. A

A great many medicinal preparationsv cannot be stored without harmful deterioration taking place due to exposure to light, varying temperatures or other well known factors. In some instances, however, individual components of a mixture can be stored indefinitely under varying conditions without adverse effect. It is to this class of mixtures that the present invention relates insofar as said mixtures are used in hypodermic syringes for purposes of injection.

For a long time past, syringes have been used in which the individual components of a mixture have been stored in separate compartments of the syringe until immediately before use, at which time the components are combined. Usually these syringes embody a needle or other piercing member which breaks through the wall separating the compartments and permits the components contained therein to mix. Syringes of this type can only be used once and must, therefore, vbe inexpensive enough to be thrown away. With the larger size syringes, in

particular, the expense of the syringe presents quite a problem when it is not reusable.

Another factor of importance is security of the contents during shipment. Some of these preparations not only deteriorate if mixed prematurely, but can become quite dangerous if used after prolonged exposure to light, `heat and other factors affecting their stability. The conventional compartmented syringe can be ruptured quite easily during rough handling and the contents thereof may become mixed to some extent without the knowledge of the user. The consequences of this premature mixing are oftentimes very serious and may even result in the death of the patient.

lt is, therefore, the principal object of the present invention to provide an improved reusable syringe of the type having sealed compartments holding two or more components of an injectable medicinal preparation.

A second object of the invention is to provide a compartmented syringehaving an improved valve in the wall separating the components of the mixture which remains tightly sealed under conditions of rough handling and thereby protects the components against premature mixing.

Further-objects of the invention are to provide a syringe which is simple to construct and operate, one which is inexpensive, and one which can be resealed instantly and reloaded for use again. y

Other objects will be in part apparent and in part pointed out specifically hereinafter in connection with the description of the drawing wherein like numerals represent similar'parts throughout of a preferred embodiment, and in which:

Figure l is a diametrical section showing the syringe ige of the present invention, a portion of which has been broken away to conserve space;

Figure 2 is an enlarged fragmentary elevation showing the improved valve construction;

Figure 3 is an enlarged fragmentary diametrical section of the valve; and

Figure 4 is a section taken along line 4-*4 of Figure 3.

Referring now to Figure l of the drawing wherein a typical embodiment of the invention is illustrated, it will be seen that the improved syringe of the present invention includes an outer barrel lit closed at its lower end 12 with the exception of hypodermic needle 14 integrally formed therein, an inner barrel 16 mounted for telescopic movement within the outer barrel while in slidable sealed engagement therewith, valve means 18 providing a closure for th-e lower end of the inner barrel, and a plunger 2t) mounted for sealed slidable movement within the inner barrel. The lower end 12 of the outer tubular barrel is provided with a hypodermic needle 14 opening into compartment 22 thereof, which contains a dry or powdered medicament 24 in the particular construction shown. The needle is molded integrally with the lower end of the outer barrel which is also provided with an annular shoulder 26 to receive removable cap 28 that protects the needle. The upper end of the outer barrel is open and provided with laterally extending portions 30 which form means for holding the syringe while the inner barrel and plunger are telescoped therein.

inner barrel 16 is also tubular and sized to telescope inside outer barrel 10. The lower end of the inner barrel is formed to provide an externally threaded projection 32 terminating in continuous circular rib 34 on its bottom surface. Projection 32 of the inner barrel also contains an eccentric fiuid passage 36 which communicates compartment 38 within said inner barrel with the bottom of the projection between the continuous circular rib and the edge thereof. Plug 40 is sized to slide axially within outer barrel lli) and provide a liquid tight seal therewith. The plug carries two longitudinally spaced annular ribs 42 formed integrally on a cylindrical surface thereof which lie in sealed engagement with the inner surface of the outer barrel and a plurality of angularly spaced longitudinal ribs 44 which extend from the annular ribs to the top of the plug. The top of the plug contains an internally threaded socket 46 sized to receive the externally threaded projection 32 of the inner barrel. concentric Huid passage 46 communicates the lower end of the plug with the center of socket 46. The upper portion of the plug 40 is designed to provide a portion of reduced cross section 50 which corresponds to a similar portion of reduced cross section 52 adjacent the projection on the lower end of the inner barrel.

Compartment 38 within the inner barrel contains the liquid solvent 54 used to dissolve the medicament in the outer barrel compartment when mixed prior to injection. The upper end of the inner barrel is also provided with two laterally extending portions 56 which form means for holding the inner barrel while the plunger 20 is moved axially therein. Plunger 20 forms the closure for the upper open end of inner barrel 16. The lower end of the plungerl is provided with a plug 58 in liquid tight, sealed, slidable engagement with the inner surface of inner barrel 16. Plunger 58 is also provided with two longitudinally spaced annular ribs 60 which form the liquid tight seal with the wall of the inner barrel. The top of the plunger contains `a ange 62 adapted to receive the thumb or palm of the hand when forcing the plunger into the inner barrel.

Now in connection with Figure 3, it will be noted that the eccentric uid passage 36 in the projecting portion of the inner barrel is separated from the concentric fluid passage 46 of the plug 49 by continuous release it for rotation relative to the inner barrel. the valve means is opened by turning the plug relative circular rib 34 when said rib is .in sealed engagement with the bottom 64 of socket 46 in the plug, as shown in Figure 1. The bottom 64 of the socket 46, in effect, forms `a valve seat against which continuous circular rib 34 seats when the plug is threaded all Vthe way into the socket. The concentric fluid passage 46' opens inside the continuous rib, whereas eccentric fluid passage 36 opens outside thereof. Therefore, with the continuous rib in sealed engagement with the bottom of the socket, the solvent 54 in compartment 38 of the inner barrel cannot pass into compartment 22 of the outer barrel and mix with'the powdered medicament therein. When it is time to inject the preparation into the patient, however, "it is only necessary to unscrew the plug from the projection and separate the continuous rib 34 from the bottom of the socket a distance which will permit the solvent to flow from passage 36, beneath the continuous rib and through passage 46 into the medicament compartment. It is this position of valve means 18 which is illustrated inY Figure 3.

Figures 2 and 4 show most clearly the construction by which the plug 40 is held in non-rotatable engagement with the inner barrel to prevent accidental opening of the valve means 18, which would permit the components of the preparation to mix prematurely. In Figure 2 it will be seen that the portion 52 of reduced cross section on the lower end of the inner barrel is provided with angularV spaced ribs 66 longitudinally aligned with ribs 44 on the portion of reduced cross section of the plug. A band 68 encircles the aligned ribs, as shown most clearly in Figure 4, lapping both of the adjoining portions of reduced cross section and gripping the ribs in a manner to prevent relative rotation between the plug and inner barrel. In order to release the plug for rotational movement on the threaded projection of the inner barrel to open the valve, it is only necessary to slide the band downward until it lies wholly on the plug, as shown in Figures 2 and 3.

The syringe of the present invention is shipped and stored as shown in Figure l with the valve means closed, the band gripping the aligned longitudinal ribs on the plug and inner barrel to hold the plug in non-rotatable relation to the projection, the inner barrel fully extended within the outer barrel and the plunger fully extended within the inner barrel. Of course, the compartments within the outer end and inner barrels are pre-loaded before assembly of the syrings. When the syringe is to be used, the band is slipped down onto the plug to Then to the projection on the inner barrel, thus separating the continuous rib from the bottom of the socket and permitting the solvent to pass from the compartment in the inner barrel through the valve means into the compartment in the outer barrel. within the inner barrel will force the solvent through the valve means into the medicament. Thereafter, the syringe is shaken vigorously to dissolve the medicament in the solvent prior to injection. Finally, the needle is inserted into the patientand the inner barrel moved downwardly axially within'the outer barrel to expel'the mixture through the needle.

From the foregoing description of the improved syringe of .the present invention it will be seen that the many useful objects for which it was designed have been achieved. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that certain changes can be made in the specific construction 'illustrated herein without departing from the scope of the invention and .it is -the intention of the inventor that the protection afforded herein shall be limited only insofar as said limitations are expressly set forth in the appended claims.

I claim:

l. A syringe comprising an outer tubular barrel having a hypodermic needle connected to one end thereof com- Axial movement of the plunger mnnicating l.with .the .interior of said barrel, .a plug mounted in the other end of the outer barrel for axial slidable movement therein in liquid tight sealed contact therewith, said plug having a cavity in the surface thereof opposite the interior of the outer barrel and a fluid passage interconnecting said cavity with the interior of said outer barrel, an inner tubular barrel sized for telescopic movement into the interior of the outer barrel, said inner barrel having one end thereof provided with a projecting portion connected into the cavity of the plug for relative axial movement, said projecting portion containing a fluid Ypassage misaligned with the uid passage in the plug, means adapted to engage the surface of the plug adjacent the projecting portion upon relative axial movement in one direction and form a liquid tight seal between said uid passages, and a plunger mounted for axial slidable movement in the other end of the inner barrel in liquid tight sealed contact therewith.

2. A' syringecomprising an outer barrel-having one end provided-with a hypodermic needle communicating with the interior thereof, an Vinner barrel mounted in the other end of the-outer barrelforming a liquid tight closure therefor and an axially slidableplug, a vplunger mounted in the inner barrel for axially slidable movement in liquid tight sealed relation, and valve means carried on the end of the inner barrel which forms the closure and plug for the outer barrel to effect a communication therebetween, said means comprising two relatively movable members, both of said members being carried by the inner barrel and each member having axially extending uid passages therein in'misaligned relation, one of said passages communicating with the interior of the inner barrel and the other communicating the interior of the outer barrel regardless of any krelative movement between said members, and means forming a liquid tight seal between said misaligned passages in one relative position of said relatively movable'members and a continuous fluid passage between the inner and outer barrels in another relative position thereof.

3. In a syringe of the type Vhaving two sealed compartments separated from one another by a wall containing valve means operative to interconnect said sealed compartments, the improved valve means which comprises two relatively movable elements, one of which contains a fluid passage communicating one of the sealed compartments and the other containing a'ui-d passage communicating the other sealed compartment, sealing means carried by one of said relatively movable elements adapted to form a liquid tight seal between said'fluid passages in certain relative positions of said elements and a continuous fluid passage between the sealed compartments in other relative Ipositions of said elements, and movable locking means interconnecting the relatively movable elements of the valve means, said lockingmeans being operable to prevent accidental relative movement between said elements in one position -thereof and free relative movement therebetween in another position.

4. A device in accordance with claim 3 in which a band interconnects the elements of the valve means ina manner to prevent accidental relative rotation thereof, said band .being movable to a position whereby free rotation therebetween can take place.

5. A syringe including an outer barrel .open at one end, an inner barrel open at one end and having `the other end thereof mounted within the open end of the outer barrel for axialslidablemovementin liquidtight sealed relation, said other -end ofthe inner barrel containing two relatively movable elements, one of saidV elements containing a passage communicating vwith vthe interior of the outer barrel and the other of said elements containing a passage communicating with the interior of the inner barrel regardless ofvrany relative movement between the elements, both of said passages extending substantially parallel to ,the `axes of; saidN barrels, fand means for effecting a seal between said passages in certain relative positions of said elements, other relative positions of said elements providing a continuous passage interconnecting the interiors of the inner and outer barrels, and a plunger mounted in sealed slidable engagement within the open end of the inner barrel.

6. A device in accordance with claim 5 in which the relatively movable elements are threadedly interconnected for relative rotational and axial movement.

7. A device in accordance with claim 6 in which the passages are misaligned and a continuous rib is carried by one of the relatively movable elements positioned to form a seal with a mating surface of the other of said relatively movable elements which separates the passages.

8. A device in accordance with claim 7 in which a band is provided in position to interlock the movable elements against accidental relative rotation, said band being mounted for movement to a position which will permit free relative rotation therebetween.

9. A device in accordance with claim 8 in which the band is mounted for longitudinal slidable movement between the relatively movable elements and said elements are provided with longitudinally aligned ribs engaged by said band to prevent relative rotation therebetween.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,557,836 Hein Oct. 20, 1925 1,799,463 Hein Apr. 7, 1931 1,950,137 Dowe Mar. 6, 1934 2,744,527 Barrett et al May 8, 1956 FOREIGN PATENTS 357,803 France Nov. 24, 1905 

